So isn't it interesting that we keep hearing about Sarah Palin's peccadilloes--most lately, that she used her private email account to conduct government business--while the major media continues to ignore the George Obama scandal? Here is a guy living in Third World destitution and his half-brother is the leading candidate to become the next president of the United States! How can we be blind to this national disgrace? Are the networks and major newspapers so exhilarated at the prospect of an African American president that they have become cheerleaders and cover-up specialists for the Obama campaign?
My modest campaign to help out George Obama has been coming nicely. Sean Hannity mentioned it on his show on the Fox News Channel, and I appeared on a handful of radio shows to talk about the idea. Interestingly the George Obama Compassion Fund was reported on by Kenya's leading newspaper "The Nation." So far I have received more than $1,000 in small contributions. With my kickoff contribution of $1,000, that's upwards of $2,000 for George Obama.
This is not a huge sum, but I specifically asked people to send gifts of $5, $10 and $25. The reason is that even a relatively modest sum by American standards is a considerable sum by Kenyan standards. George Obama has said that he is living on a dollar a month. This seems an impossibly small sum to survive on, so I checked the poverty line in Kenya. That is around $100 a year. By this measure, our little fund has provided for George for 20 years. Alternatively, George can move out of his 6 foot-by-10-foot hut and into a more comfortable dwelling. He can also get the training he needs to become a mechanic.
The reporter for "The Nation" thought he had me cornered when he asked, "Are you doing this to embarrass Barack Obama?" To which I answered, "Absolutely. He deserves to be embarrassed." The reporter went on to ask me since when I had developed this great interest in African poverty. I responded that I had only a slight and distant interest in African poverty. I happen to come from a very poor country, India, and my philanthropic work is directed there. In fact,I I only took up the George Obama cause when I heard what a jerk and a hypocrite Barack Obama is being about his sibling. One Obamoron emailed me to say, "Why don't you use your money to help your own impoverished relatives in India?" The answer is that my relatives don't live in huts!
The George Obama Compassion Fund elicited some interesting comments from donors, which I'll be forwarding to George along with the funds. "This is for the poor brother long forgotten." "A brother is a terrible thing to waste." "I wish I had a brother, or even a step-brother. George is not my relative and not my race or religion but I still want to contribute to his welfare." "When Obama said that not taking care of the least of our brothers is our greatest moral failure, who knew that he was talking literally about the least of his brothers?" "I never thought I'd be writing a check to anyone named Obama, but I do want to be a true Christian and help this man in this shameful situation." "I'd send more, but I make $9.10 per hour." "I'm unemployed, but I can spare $5 for the Obama Compassion Fund."
Not one of the atheists who regularly appears on this blog contributed a penny. (This is very much in line with sociologist Arthur Brooks' data showing that the most secular people are much less generous both with money and time than their religious counterparts.) As Brooks might have predicted, most of my donations came from self-identified Christians, some of them in difficult circumstances themselves. Thanks to this generosity, Barack Obama's half-brother can look forward to the prospect of a better life. George Obama, start packing!
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 19)
61. ex-christian and observant; McCain did describe his first marriage as his greatest moral failing. I'm not voting for the guy, but I think his admission says a lot about his character. I remember a time when I liked McCain...
Ryan Anderson at 3:31PM on Sep 21st 2008
62. Dinesh, you must not look around you because you seem not to have noticed the different cultures in America. Most Africans in Africa believe in communities and even those who live in poverty have that sense where they will share what little meal they may have with one who doesn't. In America it's very different because as soon as one reaches the age of 18, he or she is considered an adult and should be able to earn their living. Being from Africa myself, sometimes I send money to my relatives and you have no idea how many times the clerks helping me with the transfer made comments on how they would never send their hard earned money to relatives like that. I laugh about it because I know they don't understand the African culture, and probably Indian culture of helping each other out with no strings attached, just for the sake of family. Obama is born and bred in America so the African culture is as strange to him as it is to any American and with all due respect, I suggest you educate yourself a little more on cultures before you judge and pretend to be so caring. And if Obama were to actually start helping Africa, it is people like you and Hannity (who is so hateful of Obama), who would cast even more stones at him.
Emma at 3:40PM on Sep 21st 2008
63. how convinient, the same man who wrote whats so great about christianity must neccessarily equate everything to a chritian morality. the circumstances and consequences as to why an individual might not contribute to a half-brother hes never met in his life are far too complex so as to condemn his entire integrity. I'm a christian, but find it disgusting when people like you use monetary contributions as a measure of moral worth. so no atheists cotributed? get over yourself. how many other catagories of people did not contribute: gays, jews, truck drivers,who cares? must we define thier general will toward people by such meager terms? its disgusting how polarized our politics has become, both sides have flaws, but you carefully pick the defects of the oppenents that defy your side of the conservative spectrum without consideration of the individuals as a whole. Bias at its best.
robert at 6:22PM on Sep 21st 2008
64. DINESH,
YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A STUPID BLACK IDIOT FROM INDIA. YES, I SAID BLACK. YOU ARE NOT WHITE AND WILL NEVER BE. OBAMA'S GRANDPARENTS AND MOTHER HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THIS GREAT NATION OF OURS. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, SO FAR. I GUESS NOTHING BUT TRYING TO CREATE CONFUSION.A COW WORSHIPER.I BET YOU ARE COLLECTING THE MONEY FOR YOURSELF. OBAMA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS FATHER'S TRANSGRESSION. HIS FATHER LEFT HIS MOTHER AND WENT BACK TO KENYA AND HAD CHILDREN WITH OTHER WOMEN THAT HE FAILED TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR UPKEEP.WHY DON'T LOOK FOR YOUR HALF BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT YOUR FATHER PROBABLY HAVE IN INDIA? MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
FLORENCE at 4:39PM on Sep 21st 2008
65. I hope that MR. Dinesh takes that money to George Obama personally! That's about the only way he will get it. And if he gets that money, he had better relocate because he'll get robbed before the Sun goes down!
Reginald E Johnson at 4:51PM on Sep 21st 2008
66. George Obama extensively quoted in an August 21st Article for the British paper "Telegraph" below.
"We have only met twice, once when I was five or six, and again in 2006," he said. " I cannot say that we are close, he probably does not even think about me. I am not going to start pestering him, I don't want to look to him for help, I want to achieve things for myself.
"I don't even tell people that I am related to Barack Obama, I don't want people here to be harassing me because they think I have money or influence. I have nothing like that, I am a person who likes to live quietly.
"I don't have any ambitions to do anything like politics, in Kenya, that means nothing. I read the newspapers, but only the sport section. Sometimes I am sure there are things about Barack which I miss, but it doesn't matter to me.
"Of course, if I was in the US I would vote for him, I think everyone should. But I am a bit biased," he joked.
Doesn't sound to me like a man bitter about his place and it seems perfectly understandable that they would live different lives. AND he said he would vote for him and doesn't want his charity.
Funny how the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" crowd changes tune and gets all mushy only when they have an ax to grind.
Would that they spent so much time worried about the American worker and a little less about their golden parachutes.
Whatever.
Jeff Meyers
Jeff Meyers at 4:59PM on Sep 21st 2008
67. Florence, you've got some issues. This man is just doing his job as he sees it. And whether he worships or rather reveres cows isn't the issue.
Jeff Meyers
Jeff Meyers at 5:02PM on Sep 21st 2008
68.
Even christians are looking right through your political pawnsmanship. What a lame, shallow, piece of work you are.
And as to your "conclusions" about us atheists not giving to your all to transparent "compassion" fund, here's the answer your most likely to recieve.
I'm going to send a check with my name and address to a shitbag with no morals, who prints names of groups of people he doesn't like, to hurt them.... Yeah, that's a good idea....
ex-christian at 5:15PM on Sep 21st 2008
69. dinesh, you are what's right with america. the truth is never complicated. being able to ignore your own family makes it clear that ignoring the country should be easy!
------
McCain made a commitment to a woman, and broke it for a Paris Hilton clone. His word is as good as used toilet paper.
Like you say, ignoring one's own stated commitment makes it clear that ignoring the country should be easy.
ex-christian at 5:23PM on Sep 21st 2008
70. I'm looking forward to D'Souza's participation in the "Free Levi" movement. The Palins have the poor kid by the short hairs. Sarah must have had him look into the barrel of her shotgun while suggesting to him that it might be best for him if he married her pregnant abstainer.
After Sarah, humbled by the GOP rout in November, returns to her role as Gubernator Beyond the Law, will Levi stay nailed? And if he does marry Blitzen (or whatever her name is) how long will he stay married to her? And if he stays married to her, how long will it be before his eyes (and who knows wha else) begin to wander.
Drop your stupid little effort to draw attention away from real issues and do something useful. Join the "Free Levi" campaign and the spin off campaign to "Let Bristol Choose!!"
cynicalismo at 12:30AM on Sep 22nd 2008
71. Dinesh, did you even attempt to check out more information concerning Obama's brother? David McKenzie's interview (from CNN) conflicts with many of your assertions. See link below for CNN interview:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/22/bts.obama.brother/
Corrie C. at 6:32PM on Sep 21st 2008
72. repost
Dinesh, did you even bother to check the information on George Obama? One google will show an interview of George Obama from CNN's David McKenzie, which contradicts man of your assertions. See below for interview:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/22/bts.obama.brother/
Corrie C. at 6:34PM on Sep 21st 2008
73. ex-christian has it right. I saw the interview with George Obama also. He is a proud man, and has no interest whatsoever in receiving "aid" from his half-brother or anyone else. He stated clearly he prefers to live in Kenya and is content with his life there. That is his choice, so leave the guy alone.
JennyD48 at 6:36PM on Sep 21st 2008
74. Dinesh D'Souza only in America could you excercise free speech without the fear of being hung like a dog. what you have written disgrace not Obama but your fellow country men. People like Jindal,Desai the 7 eleven clerk etc...the only good thing that came ou of that piece is that i'm not so sure if you are a undercover terrorist waiting to interview the President but i do know that you are a bigot that i know. love you take care!
DANIEL at 11:24PM on Sep 21st 2008
75. Poor Dinesh; I feel bad for you bro. You make a perfectly benevolent gesture and you get a slap in the face for it. I guess you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't. Sorry, I'm starting to sound like Rev. J. Wright. Since George is 'too proud' per JennyD, et al, perhaps many of those other Kenyan hut dwellers will be a little more eager to receive the donations. Memo to DD; I bet you'd have more success if you promised a tax receipt and posted the name & picture of the doner. Sort of adds a certain 'Soros'ian flair.
fanman at 7:42PM on Sep 21st 2008